Features
 | Top 10: Boutique hotel designersMost people know good boutique hotel design and when they see it – but not everyone can identify the people behind the polish. Lucy Fennings brings you a Who's Who of hotel design |
 | Five of our favourite Smith Spy itinerariesPut together by our Smith Spies, the Mr & Mrs Smith equivalent of foreign correspondents, our insider itineraries really do give you the lowdown on our favourite destinations. These are a taster of just some of our favourites… |
 | TOP 10: Honeymoon destinationsLet our destination inspiration whet your wanderlust and provide a guide to the most romantic cities, idyllic islands and wilderness escapes. Lucy Fennings rounds up a worldwide hot-list of honeymoon havens… |
 | TOP 10: Honeymoon hotelsChampagne at sunset, long lie-ins in a four poster… this is what magical honeymoons are made of. Lucy Fennings takes a heart-stopping tour of the world's most romantic retreats |
 | INSPIRATION: Proposals, weddings, honeymoonsAs you know, we're here to help you plan the most... |
 | TOP 10: Sexiest bedsRufus Purdy lays down a list of his 10 favourite sleeping beauties. Let's call it blanket coverage… |
 | INSPIRATION: 'Will you be my Mr Smith?'February 29 may have been and gone, but just because it isn't Leap Year doesn't mean you can't take the plunge anyway… Juliet Kinsman proposes where to ask him that question. |
 | THE SMITHS' TRAVEL TIPSWise up for those weekends awayBefore you go ... |
 | SAFARI TIPS: What to take, when to go...Make the most of your animal-spotting adventuresIt was a tough job, but some of our team agreed to... |
 | TOP 10: Smith card offersWhat’s on the cards? Here’s our round-up of the best extras – available totally free – for members who book hotels with Mr & Mrs Smith. Just flash your Smith card when you check in… |
 | TRAVEL TIPS: Planning a sexy escapePlaying away (age: adult; players: two). Karen Krizanovich provides the rules to the perfect romantic escapeYes, the perfect romantic Valentine weekend is... |
 | HOW TO... mix a mini-bar cocktailHere are a few great classics and a couple of contemporary cocktails from IP Bartenders that can be thrown together with only the most basic ingredients |
 | HOW TO... play strip pokerWe teach you you the rules to five-card draw, the sexiest card game for couples |
 | HOW TO... speak the lingoIndispensible phrases to use on your travels, as featured in the Mr & Mrs Smith European Cities guide... |
 | TOP 10: Hotels to book aheadThe following boutique hotels are among the most popular in the Mr & Mrs Smith collection – which means their rooms fill up fast. So, says Rufus Purdy, to guarantee a perfect summer holiday in idyllic surroundings, book them long before summer arrives... |
 | High VaultageTo celebrate the launch of the Vault – our take on loyalty points – and to get you in the mood for treating yourself to a little luxury, Juliet Kinsman makes some valuable VIP-treatment Smith hotel recommendations… |
 | TOP 10: Budget boutique hotelsYou don’t have to spend a fortune to have a stylish break. We pick out our 10 favourite chic and affordable hotels from the Mr & Mrs Smith collection |
 | ECO TIPS: Clean breakNick Raistrick suggests how best to pack up some eco troubles in your old Smith bag…‘Take only photographs, leave nothing but... |
 | ECO TIPS: Be a greener travellerMake your holiday more ‘ethical’, says The Ecologist’s Jeremy SmithHow far do you really have to go? ... |
 | HOTELS: Ayurvedic spa escapesUnwind at seven heavenly Smith hotels offering Ayurvedic spa treatments steeped in ancient Indian spirituality |
 | HOTELS: We do like to be beside the seaCelebrating our collection of stylish beachside stays, Juliet Kinsman signposts you to some favourites as featured in our online Coastline collectionThe information superhighway is a wonderful thing,... |
 | TOP 10: FAST-TRACK TO FIRST-CLASS TRAVELCharlotte Crisp imparts 10 pearl-of-wisdom tips for hassle-free travel with lashings of luxury |
 | HOLIDAYS WITH FRIENDS: The RulesEscape to a cottage – and survive. Pete Cashmore offers a blueprint to the perfect group getaway |
 | TRAVEL TIPS: Planning your tripFrom The Times Holiday HandbookCath Urquhart, travel editor of The Times offers... |
 | FAMILY TRAVEL: Top tipsThere's much more to think (and lug) about when you want to take the children along. Don't fret – follow Amanda Morison's top travel tips for parents and make jetting off with junior plain sailingADVANCE PARTY ... |
 | YOGA TIPS: Exercise on the goThere's no part that yoga can't reach, say James Giuseppe and Bella GaltRegular practice means a serene mind and a strong,... |
 | PACKING TIPS: Beauty and comfortGet these products in your suitcase, and Lisa Oxenham will have you looking and feeling your best on your travelsWho says it's just the ladies who should splash... |
 | HOW TO... fly a kiteLet's go! |
 | HOW TO... throw a FrisbeeThe easiest throw to master is the CLASSIC, the Frisbee equivalent of the tennis backhand, says Jay Woods. |
 | HOW TO... play boulesPétanque, aka boules, is more than the Gallic equivalent of crown green bowling |
 | HOW TO... get ahead in EuropeLet your brain soak up this trivia, and you’ll be the most erudite Europhile in town... Wow barmen in elegant establishments as you wax lyrical about local lore, or set your other half swooning on your first jaunt away together |
 | INSPIRATION:
There's no shortage of advice on where to go, but we seldom ask why. As Alain de Botton reflects, there’s nothing like a train ride or fluffed-up pillow to get those wheels in our head turning…
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 | INSPIRATION: Highlights from our travelsMost memorable Mr & Mrs Smith momentsWe know we're very lucky visiting so many... |
 | FOOD & DRINK: 10 hotels with great chefsSavouring the cuisine is every bit as much a part of the boutique hotel experience as trying out the bed and slipping toiletries into your bag. But which hotels have a secret weapon in the kitchen? Rufus Purdy rounds up his favourite food stars |
 | FOOD & DRINK: A fantasy menu for you to recreateGourmands from some of the finest Smith hotels share their special-occasion recipes and indulgencesMy dream cheeseboard would made up entirely of... |
 | FOOD & DRINK: Beer, glorious beerDarius Sanai and the Smith team on the world's finest thirst-quenching, edge-taking-off brewsRemember that great beer ad of the 1980s that... |
 | FOOD & DRINK: Grape expectationsAndy Baker uncorks bottled EuropeTaking a Euro jaunt and wondering what to sip... |
 | TOP 10: Urban beachesCoastal metropolises with sandy oases are excellent for sizzling sojourns. Here are some essential destinations when it's hot in the city |
 | TOP 10: Beach barsSunshine, alcohol and half-naked people — the holy trinity of the beach bar, reckons Scott Manson.If there’s a better feeling than sipping a... |
 | TOP 10: Movie classicsFilms to whet your wanderlust, as recommended by Wai Mun YoonTravelling can be done on screen and in the mind.... |
 | SHOPPING: The ultimate travel accessoriesFor those no-compromise sorts who like their socks cashmere and their luggage sexy, Richard Bence has compiled a luxurious list of the finest frequent-flyer must-haves from slippers to suitcases… |
 | SHOPPING: Family travel accessoriesJuliet Kinsman and Amanda Morison's guide to the best gear for globetrotting kids |
 | SHOPPING: Souk fabulousMarrakech, a shoppers' paradiseUp there with New York, Bangkok and Southall,... |
 | SHOPPING: Survive the souksQuick tips to shopping in Marrakech's medinaYou won’t go far wrong if you are as kind... |
 | INTERIORS: Room serviceSmith interiors genius Emily Chalmers knows how to make your boudoir hotel-beautifulIn the world of interiors, minimalism reigned for... |
 | STYLE: Moroccan interiorsJuliet Kinsman talks Marrakchi chicThe Berber city of Marrakech stands where the... |
 | HOTELS: Sun out of seasonThere's no need to be shivering at home when you can escape to a fantastic hotel in the sun throughout autumn and winter |
 | DESTINATION FOCUS: Rome Sweet RomeDoes modern Rome provide an opportunity to indulge decadent desires? A former ambassador to Italy reveals all...It’s the destination of choice for a luxe Mr... |
 | THE ART OF GIVING: Get a room!Seven reasons why Mr & Mrs Smith gift vouchers are a wonderful invention1 Who wouldn’t want to stay at a fabulous... |
 | SMITH GIFTS: Christmas present ideasMr & Mrs Smith provide some none-too-subtle hints as to what they want under their tree in 2007 |
 | MUSIC: The best albums of 2006It was a vintage year for music. Rob Wood rounds up the coolest must-have albums of the past 12 months |
 | MUSIC: The most crucial albums of 2007Whether you're stocking up for a trip or just need to buy a present, you won’t go far wrong with these records. TuneSmith Rob Wood chooses 20 inspiring albums from artists who made a fantastic din in 2007 |
